Anthony Mundine: ‘I've done so much more than Jarryd Hayne’

World Boxing Council Super Silver welterweight champion Anthony Mundine has chimed in to praise San Francisco 49ers rookie Jarryd Hayne as the latter progresses to stardom in his very young NFL career. However, Mundine was quick to let everyone know about his sporting resume as the best Australian athlete to cross over sports.

Mundine, who has never been shy about showing off his achievements, has joined the chorus of people recognising Hayne in his run as the 49ers running back and punt returner. While Mundine did acknowledge the “magnificent” things the former Eel has been doing in American football, the Aboriginal boxer was quick to dismiss Hayne, insisting that he is the best athlete Australia has ever produced.

“All the hype that Jarryd — I’m not a hater ... I’m a positive dude and send positive vibes and Jarryd Hayne, what he’s doing is magnificent,” Mundine said, reports News. “But I’ve done so much more in so much of a harder sport.”

Mundine also believes he was one of the finest players in rugby league before he pursued a boxing career. The 40-year-old Mundine claimed defeating the best fighters in the world made his transition to boxing the toughest journey for an Australian athlete.

“With respect to them all, I think I’m the best,” Mundine told the Daily Telegraph. “No one has walked my walk.

Mundine, who has a boxing record of 47 wins, six losses and 27 knockouts, played State of Origin before quitting halfway through the 2000 season to pursue his boxing dream. He recorded 56 tries in his 116 games for St George Illawarra, while his three tries for Brisbane was accounted for in 11 games.

Mundine is set to defend his WBC Silver junior middleweight against American boxer Charles Hatley in Melbourne on Nov. 11. Mundine is also the mandatory contender for Floyd Mayweather Jr’s WBC world championship belt.

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